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Mrs J shows me the steep drop faced by her daughter, now aged 10, every time she leaves or arrives at their flat.

“It is only the first floor, but the drop would kill her,” she says. “There is a little ledge where she puts her foot to climb up.

“She’s tall for her age and she can climb over. She likes to look down from the balcony.

“It’s a communal stairway where dealers sell drugs, and teenagers smoke and throw food and drink cartons away. There is often disgusting urine on the stairs from the addicts. Like many autistic children, Amira touches everything she finds and puts it in her mouth. It’s so dangerous. Every time we go to school or to the shop it is a nightmare.”

Mrs J has rheumatoid arthritis, meaning it is even more difficult for her to keep her daughter safe in the stairwell and on the balcony.

Meanwhile, the family have to keep the windows locked at all times.

The lack of air has worsened condensation and mould in the property – badly affecting one of Amira’s brothers who has asthma.

Amira’s solicitor Rebekah Carrier shows me documents explaining why the family has not been moved. In June 2014, the council stated “the risk of fatality is not as imminent as in other families”.

Another document from October 2014 says: “There is no evidence to suggest that a fall would be any more fatal than to any other person who was to fall.” Amira’s family say the issue is whether she is more likely to fall due to her different sense of risk.

Nawaal Sawid (Image: National Pictures)

When Nawaal Sayid fell on June 25, 2013, it was revealed that Islington had received repeated warnings from professionals, including occupational therapists, a consultant pediatrician and support workers, that Nawaal was at risk.

One professional had written in 2010: “It is not a case of if Nawaal falls, but when. This family should be given the highest priority in getting a new flat. This situation is far too dangerous as an accident will be fatal. A child is being put in extreme danger every minute of every single day that she is at home.”

Today, it appears few lessons have been learned. As well as Amira, Rebekah Carrier is also representing a second child with autism, who has a severely disabled older brother.

“They also live in very unsuitable housing in Islington where they can’t be kept safe,” Carrier says. “The council also assessed them as having ‘urgent safety needs’ almost three years ago.”

Earlier this year the families brought judicial review proceedings against the council. The High Court agreed that “as the children get older and stronger, no doubt the risks will become greater”, and that the claimants’ mothers have “real fears for their children’s safety”. But the case failed. The families believe they have a strong case for appeal, and the mothers say they can’t give up.

“We are desperate to move before something happens to my daughter,” Mrs J says. “She is in danger here every day.”

An Islington Council spokesman said: “We completely understand these families’ desire to move. Relevant plans and joint working between council services were and are in place. The High Court was satisfied with the council’s system to deal with their safety. There is very high demand on council housing and many families with high levels of need.”